Lesotho Football Association Breaks Silence on Teboho Mokoena’s Alleged Ineligibility for World Cup Qualifier

A member of the Lesotho Football Association (LFA) has spoken out regarding the controversy surrounding Teboho Mokoena’s alleged ineligibility for Bafana Bafana’s recent FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho. The issue revolves around Mokoena’s yellow card accumulation during South Africa’s qualification campaign, raising concerns that the Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder should have served a suspension.

The LFA has confirmed that they have formally queried the matter with both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Mokoena received yellow cards in two separate World Cup qualifiers: one against Benin in 2023 and another in South Africa’s match against Zimbabwe. According to FIFA’s statutes, a player must serve a one-match suspension if they accumulate two yellow cards in different qualifying matches.

LFA’s Formal Query to FIFA

Despite the interruption of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers between the World Cup qualifiers, FIFA’s rules stipulate that the suspension does not carry over into other competitions. This has prompted the LFA to lodge a formal inquiry, questioning whether Mokoena was eligible to feature in the game against Lesotho at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium this past weekend.

LFA secretary-general Mokhosi Mohapi expressed his concerns, emphasizing that if a rule was indeed broken, the association would be fully within its rights to protest and claim the points. “The question is, was a rule broken? If yes, we are fully entitled to protest and get the points. We were made aware of Mokoena’s bookings and we have since sent a formal inquiry to CAF and FIFA,” Mohapi said in a statement to Sowetan Live.

Mohapi also pointed out that Nigeria is reportedly considering a similar protest, further suggesting that the issue is serious and affects all teams involved. “We have heard that Nigeria also wants to protest and they too are entitled to that because the result (last Friday) prejudices everyone. Suppose it was us who fielded a defaulter and got the points, Bafana would have done the same.”

He went on to say, “Unfortunately, the law is the law and SAFA should have known about the bookings. We have no hard feelings. We want those points.”

The 24-Hour Window for Protests

One critical aspect of this issue is whether Lesotho’s protest was lodged within the required 24-hour window after the match, as stipulated in FIFA’s Disciplinary Code. The rules state that associations must submit their protests in writing through FIFA’s Legal Portal within 24 hours of the match in question.

Lesotho’s formal protest could hinge on whether they were able to meet this deadline, which will be scrutinized as part of the ongoing investigation.

Lesotho Coach’s Comments on the Matter

While the controversy continues to develop, Lesotho’s coach Leslie Notsi refrained from commenting extensively on the situation following his team’s 1-1 draw with Rwanda. At a post-match press conference, Notsi stated, “On this matter I can’t say much, my focus was on today’s match (against Rwanda). I think that one is up to the authorities and those in charge, and I heard they will lodge complaints, but I don’t know anything, I do not know if they have done it yet.”

The issue remains unresolved, and the outcome of the LFA’s inquiry into Mokoena’s eligibility could have significant implications for the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. The decision on whether the protest was valid and the potential consequences for Bafana Bafana will ultimately rest with FIFA and CAF.